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# Summary of H.R. 6079 - CHILD Labor Act The CHILD Labor Act strengthens federal protections against child labor violations by significantly expanding restrictions on which children can work and in what conditions. The bill prohibits anyone under 14 from working for non-family employers, bars anyone under 18 from working in hazardous industries like manufacturing, mining, and meat processing, and requires the Department of Labor to identify other dangerous occupations within 180 days and review them every five years. The legislation affects employers, federal contractors, and companies throughout supply chains, establishing that businesses can be held responsible for child labor violations committed by their subcontractors and suppliers at any tier. The bill substantially increases civil and criminal penalties for child labor violations, raising fines to up to $151,380 per affected child (doubling in cases of repeated or willful violations) and up to $690,000 per violation involving death or serious injury. It creates a new private right of action allowing affected children to recover at least $75,000 in compensatory damages and potentially up to $1 million in punitive damages. Federal contractors and recipients of federal financial assistance must certify they do not employ children in oppressive child labor and face liquidated damages of $20 per day for each child employed in violation, with a three-year ban on new federal contracts for violators. The bill requires the Department of Labor to establish training programs and report annually to Congress on work-related injuries and illnesses affecting all workers.

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